Several industrialisation initiatives are set to boost manufacturing in the North West province – particularly in the platinum sector – according to the premier, Supra Mahumapelo.
“As part of the Special Economic Zone initiative, the province intends to bolster manufacturing capacity, particularly in the platinum sector, to strengthen the role of mining as a strategic economic tributary,” said the premier, Supra Mahumapelo, in his State of the Province Address (Sopa) at the Marikana Community Hall near Rustenburg on Friday
He said he expected demand for platinum to shoot up as China had decided to explore its use in the environmental quality air implementation.
Mahumapelo said the province would – through the North West Development Corporation (NWDC) – continue to use existing state expenditure as leverage to introduce industrialisation with a specific mandate to change patterns of ownership for black people, particularly in villages, townships and small dorpies (VTSD) areas.
The industrialisation opportunities identified in the province include:
- The use of Learner Support Material budget allocation to set up a stationery manufacturing factory in the province to supply all schools and government departments with stationery, working with existing retailers in VTSD areas. This project is aimed at establishing a provincial printing house. A process of sourcing potential partners is under way.
- The acceleration of VTSD agro-businesses to build small-scale agro hubs across the province.
- Establishment of a provincial feedlot, feed bank and abattoir scheme working together with both commercial and small-scale farmers as part of the province’s Saamwerk-Saamtrek initiatives.
- Establishment of the North West Agricultural Fund (NWAF).
- R110 million secured for the establishment of the Special Economic Development Zone (SEDZ). The project is estimated to attract investment to the value of R4 billion, potentially creating 6 045 jobs over a five-year period.
